The Sharks picked up a vital bonus-point Currie Cup win against the EP Kings in Durban on Saturday afternoon, in a game that was at times even closer than the 33-25 scoreline would suggest.

After the opening-round loss against the Pumas, winning this fixture was of the utmost importance for the Sharks and one could feel a palpable sense of relief when the final whistle blew – there was much about the performance that had fans shaking their heads, but also a number of good things, including the four tries scored on the day.

Most alarming, though, were the continued issues on defence, with Kings flyhalf George Whitehead taking full advantage to score the first of his side’s four tries in the twelfth minute. The Sharks struck back in impressive style, with the mercurial Lionel Cronje finding Andre Esterhuizen on the left with a pin-point aerial kick. The big winger plucked the ball out of the air and crashed over, handing the Sharks an 8-7 lead in the 16th minute. Cronje would play a role just a minute later, scoring his own try after a clever inside pass from Joe Pietersen put him through a gap. Pietersen’s conversion handed the Sharks a handy 15-5 lead, which he then extended further to 18-5 with a penalty.

If there’s one thing you can count on, though, it’s that the Sharks will always find a way to let the opposition back into a game if they get ahead early on and that was indeed the case here. Sharks number 8 Philip van der Walt was shown a yellow card for a tackle infringement in the red zone, after a period of sustained ball-in-hand pressure from the Kings, with opposite number Tim Agaba scoring off the back of a numerically-superior scrum to end the half. Scott van Breda missed his second conversion, leaving his side trailing 10-18 at the break.

Van der Walt’s exclusion was to prove more costly still in the second half, with the Kings turning on the pace (and the charm) to score two further tries in the opening period. With the Sharks looking increasingly confused defensively while a man down, first Steven Sykes and then Enrico Acker scored tries, with Geroge Whitehead converting the second of those to put his team ahead, 22-18. Crucially, the Kings had already picked up a bonus point and it appeared to be going properly downhill for the Sharks. A fact that was not lost on many watching, of course, was that Agaba – arguably the best player on the field in the opening hour – is a man who (like Warren Whiteley of the Lions) had to leave Durban after attending the Sharks Academy due to a lack of senior opportunities. Those comparing his performance to van der Walt’s may have asked the question as to why the Sharks didn’t rather invest in what they had.

One local youngster who refused to back down, though, was blindside flank Daniel du Preez and he scored a great try off the back of a driving maul to bring the Sharks back into the game, in the 55th minute. Van der Walt having been reintroduced, Cronje found a good touch with a penalty and Marco Wentzel and Franco Marais between them secured the clean lineout possession needed for du Preez to power over for his second try in an as many Currie Cup appearances. Pietersen missed the conversion and the resulting 1-point lead was soon eclipsed by Whitehead, who struck back with a penalty and put the Kings ahead again, 25-23 with the last quarter looming.

It was in this final period, though, that the Sharks finally stood up and showed just a little composure, clawing back that deficit to ultimately record the win. First Pietersen snuck the lead back via a penalty, before replacement Paul Jordaan scored a trademark solo try down the left flank to not only secure the victory, but also hand the Sharks a bonus point of their own. Even with Odwa Ndungane shown a very dubious yellow card for a dangerous tackle 7 minutes from time, the Sharks managed to play cleverly enough to see out the time with their 8-point lead intact.

91 Comments

Honestly I felt pretty good about that win, I think the Kings actually played well and we were better.

I think our defense is shocking though. But I actually really like Esterhuizen at wing, he is a monster in defense and showed that he is definitely not slow.

Comment 1, posted at 17.08.15 09:59:30 by Seth101

@Seth101 (Comment 1) : Estyerhuizen and du Preez were the standouts for me.

But a lot of average…. worrying, but we keep the faith.

Comment 2, posted at 17.08.15 10:03:51 by robdylan

@robdylan (Comment 2) : My belief and hope is that the more they play as a team the better they will get.

Comment 3, posted at 17.08.15 10:10:37 by Seth101

Heimar is becoming an enigma himself. when he seems to play off the bench or not getting a few games, he comes with a bang! however, he is not translating that guile and street smart when he starts.

the centres probably need one more starting opportunity before changes should be made. Individually they look to have the goods but need to gel, actually the whole team.

Captain Planet probably also needs a rest as he played a lot of rugby so far.

Franco also needs to start as pack and set pieces looks better. any news on Cooper? We seriously need a SR level 2 and 5. Planet and Lewies plus AN Other (unless a youngster excell in remaining u21 games).

Claasens should also be rotated into starting, and along with Joe P looks like good buys to help the younger gents. Joe P’s kicking was a major difference this round and I am pretty sure if he played in SR, we probably would have beaten Lions, Tahs and Bulls

Defence needs to be sorted! here is where I am not sure if Gold can serve as HC. I enjoyed his old articles and strategy tips in SA Rugby Mag but he seems to be a DOR and not a HC. @robdylan, any further news on HC?

Comment 4, posted at 17.08.15 10:26:27 by Kabouter

Jordaan simply has to start at 13. He is class and completely swung the momentum in the game when he came on. Meanwhile Mjekevu hasn’t shown anything to get excited about

Comment 5, posted at 17.08.15 10:27:15 by woody

@woody (Comment 5) : I would play Wandi at wing over Odwa and Jordaan at center.

Comment 6, posted at 17.08.15 10:32:34 by Seth101

Would have been much closer if Whitehead packed his kicking boots..

I like that we struggled in this match and won it by persevering, rather than scoring 50 and leaving the Sharks with more questions than answers.

Mjekevu has been really poor…but if he isnt picked will he go off crying again? laso im sorry but Odwa’s time is up…a great servant but sorry his legs have just run out. If Hadebe plays we may as well just give the opposition the lineout throw in. Pieterson has been pretty average so far…perhaps he needs a run at 10 to inspire him into action? Any new injury news?

Comment 8, posted at 17.08.15 10:37:59 by SheldonK

@Seth101 (Comment 6) : That’s only an option while Sbura remains injured. We would have heard if he had a serious injury so I presume he will be back this weekend or next to take over from Odwa

Comment 9, posted at 17.08.15 10:39:45 by woody

@Seth101 (Comment 6) : That’s only an option while Sbura remains injured. We would have heard if he had a serious injury so I presume he will be back this weekend or next to take over from Odwa anyway. Point is though that, even not at full fitness, Jordaan is our best 13 and should definitely start there

Comment 10, posted at 17.08.15 10:42:55 by woody

@woody (Comment 10) : There is always the option of Jordaan 12, Sbura 13. But Gold wouldn’t go for that.

Comment 11, posted at 17.08.15 10:47:49 by Seth101

@Seth101 (Comment 11) : Yeh more likely Esterhuizen will shift to 12 with Jordaan 13 and Sithole on the wing…guess time will tell

Comment 12, posted at 17.08.15 10:58:48 by SheldonK

@SheldonK (Comment 12) : Right now I wouldn’t move Esterhuizen from wing, I really want to see him grow into that position. He offers something there that no other wing in SA does.

Comment 13, posted at 17.08.15 11:04:33 by Seth101

@Seth101 (Comment 13) : Id also leave him there and Williams where he is. But Mjekevu needs to change.

Comment 14, posted at 17.08.15 11:09:02 by SheldonK

Our backs are still getting horrible ball from their scrummy. I said I would give Ungerer 3 games, but actually now feel like Claasens should start and Hanco Venter be given some time of the bench before also giving him a couple of starts to see what he has to offer.

I honestly don’t think Ungerer is up to scratch.

Comment 15, posted at 17.08.15 11:19:37 by Letgo

@Seth101 (Comment 11) : pity, they looked really good two CC ago and when they got some time under Jake in SR

hopefully Jordaan is really managed well as he can be the trump card this season but should not be rushed or risked

Comment 16, posted at 17.08.15 11:23:04 by Kabouter

Very glad for the win. I feel sorry for the Kings not getting another bonus point, they deserved it.

Comment 17, posted at 17.08.15 11:26:50 by Salmonoid the Subtle

with Inny Radebe playing so well, will he be given a game or two off the bench in CC or kept at juniors? Like Jordaan, he needs to be managed carefully, honestly we missed him at Junior Bokke as that crop of FHs were nothing but solid, just not special, unlike Inny.

Cronje seems like he will always flatter to deceive and mix the sublime with poor decision making. Would love to see Inny get a few games off the bench

Comment 18, posted at 17.08.15 11:30:17 by Kabouter

@Seth101 (Comment 11) : Jordaan and Sbura were played as a centre combo under Jake White in the second half of super rugby last year. It didn’t work at all and it would be a step in the wrong direction to try that. Heimar and Esterhuizen are our 12s for Currie Cup and nobody else needs to be introduced there

@woody (Comment 19) : only part that did not work was that Jordaan was expected to crashball and not use his skills. go one CC season back and they actually did very well, even dismantle the Kwaste backline in Kimberley, if memory serves me correct. Jordaan did a few offloads and Sbura ran hard and straight off him and a few tries were scored quickly and all at top speed – something the guys have not done in a while.

Heimar needs to get his mojo going as he has been far too uninfluential in a key decision making position. I relooked the previous u20 WC and the Junior Bokke looked the most ominous when Pollard was joined by Jesse Kriel in centres and Esterhuizen on wing,unfortunately not when he was 12. Esterhuizen can use this season to improve his decision making, but from the wing. It was a good learning position for JDV when he had to compete with Fleck, Barry and Joubert. Esterhuizen playing wing could help his general decision making or turn him into a Noholo type monster

Comment 21, posted at 17.08.15 11:50:42 by Kabouter

@Kabouter: In my mind, Inno certainly looks ready for the step up to senior rugby. The problem arises in where this will leave the u21 side? Inno is a very important player and leader in that side – so do we send him up to senior now, or rather let him continue playing u21 with the hope that they maybe win the title? What is more important – getting him senior game time or perhaps having a winning junior side? tough one

Comment 22, posted at 17.08.15 11:52:13 by Vonno13

@Seth101 (Comment 20) : Still ideally at 12 you need somebody who is big and strong enough to be a good crash ball option and who has good distribution (the distribution being more important). Jordaan doesn’t fit that description and so shouldn’t be played there

Comment 23, posted at 17.08.15 11:53:13 by woody

I do like Esterhuizen on the wing. Personally, I feel he does not have the skill set to play 12 at senior level. I think he will develop into a potent wing – having said that, he needs to be tested against a class wing to see how he goes.

Comment 24, posted at 17.08.15 11:54:12 by Vonno13

@Kabouter (Comment 21) : That was last year’s currie cup. And the game that you mention was when the Griquas #13 was red carded 10 minutes into the game and we still struggled to beat them. That centre combo struggled throughout that currie cup until Esterhuizen moved to 12 and then things improved drastically

Comment 25, posted at 17.08.15 11:57:55 by woody

Problem is I don’t rate any of our centers as a very good 12. They are all better at 13…

Comment 26, posted at 17.08.15 11:59:25 by Seth101

@Seth101 (Comment 26) : Lionel Cronje could play 12 with Pieterson at 10. I agree that Esterhuizen at 12 lacks a lot when it comes to distribution. I like Heimar at 12 but i feel he is struggling with Mjekevu outside him.

Comment 27, posted at 17.08.15 12:04:23 by SheldonK

@SheldonK (Comment 27) : No please, I want Joe at fullback purely because I do not want Odwa or SP there, no no no no

Jordaan was totally wasted at 12 and the back line looked lightweight and disjointed during that experiment IMO. Also, I’m not sure that Esterhuizen ever played wing for the Junior Boks, Pollard was stand-off, Esterhuizen and Kriel the centres and Kriel, Sergeal and v Merwe were the wingers (ironically Esterhuizen looked good at 12 when he was playing in a team that worked and people were surprised by how good his distribution was for a guy his size…) The season Pollard played in the centre was when Robert du Preez played stand-off – the backs looked great that year but only because Senatla, Obi and Kolbe were a seriously rapid back three. Ungerer looked good in SR, Williams has played well when given the chance, I don’t think we should confuse guys not shining in a struggling team with players who aren’t up to it. Its not great so far but I’m not sure if changing the team every 5 minutes is the best way to get defensive systems – which has been the main problem – that work…

@JR (Comment 33) : In a few of the key games Esterhuizen was shifted to wing but when he was at 12 he actually did well. Maybe the current wing stint will give him confidence again.

the game vs Sarries he also looked really good but seems to have not kicked on yet, the flank experiment also prob did not help…

holding thumbs he will find his feet and kick on this year. agreed on Jordaan being wasted at 12 – he will show flashes of brilliance there just because he is a quality ball player- heck apart from scrummie he will do that anywhere in the backline, but 13 is definitely a better call.

lets hope he stays injury free and set the CC on fire

Comment 36, posted at 17.08.15 15:07:36 by Kabouter

@SheldonK (Comment 27) : must say I do agree with you, Heimar seems a bit of at the moment but not sure we can blame Mjekevu. to me it looks as if he’s unsure about which role he needs to play must he be a link to open up the field or must he play crash test dummy.

@SheldonK (Comment 38) : really hope this weekend they start with Claassens at 9 and Jordaan at 13.

Comment 39, posted at 17.08.15 16:26:55 by JD

@Kabouter (Comment 18) : A couple of Questions? Is it a good thing to push the guys too early up the ladder or rather allow them time to shine and gain confidence at age group level? Are we not setting them up for failure, sometimes by pushing too quickly? Do we not end up depleting the Junior teams and then create a bottle neck in the Senior team? Once Inny has played in Currie Cup, his expectation would be SR and not another year in U21 – Then in SR he would be about 5th in line for a match so he could easily get ‘itchy feet’ and trundle off to another union or overseas! In my mind, rather get the experience at lower levels, gain confidence, ensure that the succession plan is well spelled out, pay them handsomely to stay and then reward them with the jump when the time is right.

Comment 40, posted at 17.08.15 16:54:29 by Julesgr8ter

I totally agree with that (no idea how to tag the last post) – shoving age group players into a struggling team seems like too much of a gamble – rather build them up to hopefully play a role next year if ready? Its less radical but I would perhaps look at whether Joubert, Nkozi and any of the other higher-potential U19s are good enough to play U21 to aid their development rather than have them playing in a weak team – and potentially lose them down the line – all season.

Comment 41, posted at 17.08.15 17:19:41 by JR

@JR (Comment 41) : that’s a pretty good suggestion. My feeling is that the under 21s are maybe lacking a bit of strike force out wide – the likes of Joubert, Nkosi and Visagie could be useful additions to that squad.

Comment 42, posted at 17.08.15 17:27:09 by robdylan

Deysel has always been one of my favorite sharks, but he is just a shadow of his former self. Does anyone know anything about the “personal problem” that was alluded to when he was suspended? I hope he is able to sort it out, because his head is not on on the pitch right now, it certainly was not there when Adaba scored his try at the end of the first half. How he did not unbind the second he saw the opposing 8′s head pop out I just don’t understand.

Comment 43, posted at 17.08.15 18:00:15 by Dancing Bear

@Dancing Bear (Comment 43) : serious illness of a close family member. Not something he can really just “sort out”, I’m afraid.

Comment 44, posted at 17.08.15 18:05:39 by robdylan

@robdylan (Comment 44) : That is very sad and unfortunate. I wish him all the best, but perhaps he would feel better if he were able to spend more time with his ill family member? Perhaps more of a break from rugby. Just thinking what might be best for the player.

Comment 45, posted at 17.08.15 18:18:11 by Dancing Bear

@Julesgr8ter (Comment 40) : Ja that is a tough ome hence he needs to be managed very well. If Inny is good enough to be considered Pat back up, then he should get as much exposure but if it is Cronje, then let him develop this year, but let him know exactly what to expect.

Not giving guys exposure and clarity also leads to itchy feet, hence we lost Du Preez and Du Plessis to province, just for both to be stuck there.

They smart people need to decide whether they invest in Inny or Lionel. I would like for Inny to get some CC gametime

Comment 46, posted at 17.08.15 20:26:48 by Kabouter

@robdylan (Comment 42) : Gotta feel for Paul Anthonie as he has a proven track record but nothing to work with. Hopefully something good comes out of this year though.

If the guys are physically up for the next level, boosting the u21s sounds reasonable. A strong performance by u21s will also be a boost for the union and surely assist with recruitment. When lqst has the Sharks made the u21 final, this WP Bulls monopoly needs to end ????

Comment 47, posted at 17.08.15 20:34:15 by Kabouter

@Dancing Bear (Comment 45) : Cant agree more! To get the best ourt of this monster, he needs to be mentally 100% committed. If he needs a break then so be it as he is really a shadow at the moment. Good luck!

Comment 48, posted at 17.08.15 20:39:40 by Kabouter

@robdylan (Comment 44) : that’s sad to hear and I really hope and pray that whom ever it is gets well soon!!!! Hope he gets enough off time to spend with them, any chance the Sharks would release him for a time to be with his family?

Comment 49, posted at 17.08.15 22:08:59 by JD

GOLD OUT!

Comment 50, posted at 18.08.15 02:04:07 by Orlok Tsubodai

@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 50) : No need to keep pushing that. Remember he is only stand-in coach because they could not find a suitable candidate in time for CC.

Hopefully finding a new coach is Smittie’s top priority.

Comment 51, posted at 18.08.15 03:27:46 by MysticShark

@MysticShark (Comment 51) : and if the Sharks decide they cannot find a “suitable” replacement for Super rugby next year?…

Comment 52, posted at 18.08.15 14:01:34 by Orlok Tsubodai

And what proof do we have that this man Gold, who is a hopeless coach (refer to his coaching record), can be any better as a director of rugby? Does he inspire you with confidence?…

Comment 53, posted at 18.08.15 14:02:35 by Orlok Tsubodai

There are supposedly no suitable candidates available to the Sharks yet the Stormers, who do not quite have the same Super Rugby record as the Sharks, have managed to attract the likes of Eddie Jones for next year.

Comment 54, posted at 18.08.15 14:05:29 by Orlok Tsubodai

So….. GOLD OUT!

Comment 55, posted at 18.08.15 14:05:55 by Orlok Tsubodai

@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 54) : How I wish we could have kept John Plumtree on as an assistant coach.

Comment 56, posted at 18.08.15 15:42:39 by Ben

@Ben (Comment 56) : To who Gold,I’m with the vampire slayer on that one.

@JD (Comment 58) : normally when something is broken it needs to be replaced. Trying to repair the same broken part again and again will let you down… again.

This coach was never the right appointment from the very beginning.

Comment 59, posted at 18.08.15 17:38:07 by Orlok Tsubodai

@The hound (Comment 57) : To whomever. He’s a great forwards coach and could have acted as head coach in the Currie Cup.

Comment 60, posted at 18.08.15 17:59:04 by Ben

@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 59) : maybe but Gold is not the coach he’s the director of rugby. A new head coach must be appointed so firing Gold will not solve it. Rather blame JS for not appointing a head coach to replace Plum!!!!! Sharks needs some stability in the coaching and boardroom structures as this “musical chair” style is not helping the team to perform!!!!

Comment 61, posted at 18.08.15 20:03:42 by JD

@JD (Comment 61) : sorry boet but Gold is the de facto coach even if they try spin it otherwise. He was for Super Rugby and he is for this Currie Cup – and look how the team has performed under him…

And by the way, Smit did appoint a head coach after Plum. Remember Jake White?

Gold offers no stability.

Can things really be any worse under a new coach?

Comment 62, posted at 18.08.15 20:30:03 by Orlok Tsubodai

There is ample evidence that a new coach can perform wonders within a matter of days, not even weeks. Gold has been with the Sharks since Feb. Why is it taking him so long to get consistent results? Perhaps because he’s no good, as his prior record suggests? Why stick with useless?

Comment 63, posted at 18.08.15 20:31:51 by Orlok Tsubodai

@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 62) : no sorry boet Jake was apointed in the same position as Gold namely “Director or Rugby”. Since Plum only BMH was apointed as head coach (a role he never got a real chance to perform). Sharks needs to get a Head coach so that Gold can do the job he was appointed to do!!!!

Comment 64, posted at 18.08.15 22:08:07 by JD

@JD (Comment 64) : you might want to check out the meaining of de facto sometime

Comment 65, posted at 18.08.15 22:12:24 by Orlok Tsubodai

Gold himself said he had to act as a head coach during Super Rugby rather than what is now considered to be a DOR type role. He is acting as de jure head coach right now in the Currie Cup because apparently the stellar likes of Grant Bashford turned down the role and absolutely nobody else on the planet wants it.

Reading between the lines Gold coached in Super Rugby because BMH was shyte and the proof of this is that BMH was shown the door at the end of the campaign.

Jake White had BMH foistered upon him and took a very hands on coaching role to the Super rugby campaign of 2014 as a result. It is commonly believed that not being able to personally choose his assistants caused some strife between White and his CEO.

Who appointed the rookie coach BMH in the first place?…

Comment 66, posted at 18.08.15 22:21:43 by Orlok Tsubodai

The same person who subsequently appointed Gold, that’s who. It seems our CEO has no talent at spotting a good coach or retaining a decent one.

Comment 67, posted at 18.08.15 22:23:44 by Orlok Tsubodai

@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 65) : call it what you want boet that still does not make him the head coach!!!! Can’t fire him as head coach if he was not appointed as it. Apoint a head coach and let Gold do the job he was appointed to do and for that the blame must fall 100% on JS.
Yes Gold is not doing a super job as Head Coach but he was just acting in the position UNTIL A NEW HEAD COACH WAS APPOINTED!!!!!!!
Sharks needs consistency in coaching structures and firing Gold will not achieve anything, rather apoint a new Head Coach.

Comment 68, posted at 18.08.15 22:26:22 by JD

@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 63) : I agree with everything you say, Gold should not be coach. However, the worst thing the Sharks can do right now is rush the appointment of a new coach and end up with another dud. I like to think Smit has learned his lessons with Gold and White and will be more diligent with the next appointment.

Comment 69, posted at 18.08.15 22:27:29 by MysticShark

@JD (Comment 68) : look, anything to get Gold away from coaching. His record as a coach is uninspiring to say the least.

I’m curious though. What makes you think that Gold would be any better as a DOR? What in his track record suggests he is the right man for the job? I can’t help feeling the Sharks require a much better candidate.

Comment 70, posted at 18.08.15 22:29:16 by Orlok Tsubodai

@MysticShark (Comment 69) : re Smit learning a lesson and being more diligent with the next appointment – apparently not! Smit was to sanction the appointment of Grant Bashford as head coach as recently as several weeks ago!!! Can you believe it?

If it was a straight choice between Gold and Bashford I’d probably choose Gold….. that in itself speaks volumes.

Comment 71, posted at 18.08.15 22:34:52 by Orlok Tsubodai

@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 70) : don’t know if he would be any better or the right man but what makes anyone so sure that there is any other candidates that is willing to come to the Sharks and for that matter that there is any other high profile coach that’s interested in the job as Head Coach? If memory serves me right Mitchell already turned down the job so which other coaches did the same that we don’t even know about?
It’s not as easy as what we may think and sometimes it’s about fixing a bad situation as best you can!!!!

Comment 72, posted at 18.08.15 22:43:44 by JD

@JD (Comment 72) : that’s just a crock excuse. Let’s settle for the best of the worst then. The Stormers are getting Eddie Jones. They found a winner.

Comment 73, posted at 18.08.15 22:46:39 by Orlok Tsubodai

@JD (Comment 72) : sometimes fixing a bad situation means removing the bad situation not hoping the bad situation can miraculously change to a good situation all by himself

@robdylan (Comment 2) : Yup Esterhuizen and du Preez were our best players…and Jordaan was the best of the subs…

Comment 76, posted at 19.08.15 07:37:23 by pastorshark

@Richard Ferguson (Comment 7) : Do you mean Scott van Breda? Is still say he was our man of the match! He missed kicks, missed tackles, kicked into touch directly and just generally had a mare…

Comment 77, posted at 19.08.15 07:38:59 by pastorshark

@Letgo (Comment 15) : In SR we were all singing Ungerer’s praises…now he’s had two below average games and you are prepared to discard him? OK. I disagree. Somebody has to be able to help him work on his weak areas…and it has to then be right to give him an extended run in the Currie Cup to work on those in match situations. I believe he has a lot of potential and therefore I definitely favour giving him an extended run and working on him. Surely a coaching team should be able to do that?

@pastorshark (Comment 78) : I don’t think he must be discarded but maybe time to start Claassens and let him come on for 20min while his “problems” are being fixed.

Comment 80, posted at 19.08.15 10:14:16 by JD

@pastorshark (Comment 78) : Ungerer had these same issues during Super rugby but lack of game time and the overall hatred fro Hoffman swept them under the carpet. He has perhaps tried to bulk up too much as i watched him as a school boy and he was quick to the ruck and a bullet accurate pass better than most senior scrumhalfs. So whats happened since? And im afraid i again have to point at the Sharks coaching and conditioning structures..

Comment 81, posted at 19.08.15 10:52:14 by SheldonK

@JD (Comment 80) : Letgo, though, thinks he should not even be on the bench…and I can’t agree with that…

Comment 82, posted at 19.08.15 10:53:12 by pastorshark

@SheldonK (Comment 81) : Yup…fair comment…surely coaching should be addressing these issues? I really hope to see that during the course of the season…

Comment 83, posted at 19.08.15 10:54:22 by pastorshark

@pastorshark (Comment 83) : One would think so. It does also relate back to my argument about whether the ‘assistant coaches’ are actually that good. we always just look at the head coach and lay blame but if his workers are failing…well then

Comment 84, posted at 19.08.15 11:08:05 by SheldonK

@SheldonK (Comment 81) : that’s a big concern for me as it seems as if they can’t fix problems with players conditioning and small technical deficiencies.

Comment 85, posted at 19.08.15 11:18:05 by JD

@JD (Comment 85) : Im not saying there isnt 1…but which player has come through the Sharks coaching structures and is now a better player both skill and conditioning wise? Only ones i can think of is Lwazi Mvovo who has increased his skillset and probably Marcel Coetzee

Comment 86, posted at 19.08.15 11:22:37 by SheldonK

@SheldonK (Comment 86) : Beast but sad to say other than those three I also can’t think of any other players.
Biggest concern for me is at hooker were the Sharks had two of the best with JS being the current boss and they can’t fix the problems of the players, it took Burden to move to France for him to have his skill fixed!?!?!
That for me is very poor indeed!!!!!!

Comment 87, posted at 19.08.15 12:09:34 by JD

@JD (Comment 87) : I would both agree and disagree about Beast…yes they made him into a quality prop BUT in recent years he has just taken contact and gone to ground…has hardly dominated an opponent at scrum time with strong leg drives. Is he carrying too much weight…id say probably. Leads me back to lack of explosive players at the Sharks.

Comment 88, posted at 19.08.15 12:24:13 by SheldonK

@SheldonK (Comment 88) : good point about Beast carrying to much weight, for me a lot of players (not only at the Sharks) is carrying to much weight.
In SA there’s an obsession with being bigger and I can probably compile a list as long as my arm of players that “bulked up” to perform and lost all their flair!!!!
Problem is this is a problem that already starts in school rugby with big kids being picked for school and provincial teams just to run over players instead of picking skilled players that can create gaps. Only way to solve this is to have players play in age groups with an weight limit applicable, for example a 135kg under 13 player will move to under 14 and so on. This is the only way that I can see us moving away from this bigger is better thinking in SA rugby.

Comment 89, posted at 19.08.15 12:37:59 by JD

@JD (Comment 89) : Your idea has merit but will never be implemented here as classifying kids according to weight will have their mommy and daddy jumping up and down screaming that their little fatty is being discriminated against…sad but true

Comment 90, posted at 19.08.15 13:06:04 by SheldonK

@SheldonK (Comment 90) : problem goes way deeper than mommy and daddy complaining. Problem is getting junior coaches to buy into the scheme as a lot of them (in my opinion) can only win games by including these big kids that will then be unavailable to them.
For me until we chance to skills coaching at junior levels (especially at Primary School level) as opposed to “big players running over small players” coaching, nothing will chance at senior levels!!!